The latest on U.S. President Donald Trump's meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (all times local):
12:50 p.m.
U.S. President Donald Trump says in a joint news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he will do "everything within our power to stop long-simmering racism."
Trump was asked by an Israeli reporter about a rise in anti-Semitic incidents and whether his campaign encouraged xenophobia. Trump notes that he won 306 electoral votes and fostered "tremendous enthusiasm" during his campaign.
The new president says the nation is "very divided" and adds he's hopeful to be able to "do something about that."
Trump notes that his daughter, Ivanka, and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and their three children are Jewish. He says "you're going to see a lot of love" in the United States.
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12:30 p.m.
U.S. President Donald Trump is asking Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to 鈥渉old back鈥� on settlements for a bit.
In a joint press conference with Netanyahu at the White House Wednesday, Trump responded to a question about his position on the expansion of Israeli settlements, asking Netanyahu to 鈥渉old back on settlements for a little bit.鈥�
He says that a 鈥渢wo state looked like it will be the easier of the two,鈥� but says that if Israel and the Palestinians find an alternative that they like better, he'll support them.
Trump also says that he'd like to see the U.S. Embassy in Israel moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, but noted that 鈥渨e're looking at it with great care.鈥�
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12:20 p.m.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is urging President Donald Trump to 鈥渓et us seize this moment鈥� to seek new avenues of peace in the Middle East.
Netanyahu also says he believes reversing the 鈥渞ising tide of radical Islam鈥� is also possible with Trump leading the United States.
The Israeli leader is at the White House to meet with Trump.
In his opening statement at a joint news conference, Trump says Israel has no better ally than the United States and the United States has no better ally than Israel.
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12:25 p.m.
President Trump is opening his joint news conference with Israeli Prime Minister with a vow to encourage a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians.
But the U.S. president says the two parties themselves 鈥渕ust directly negotiate such an agreement.鈥�
Netanyahu adds, 鈥渂oth sides.鈥�
Trump reaffirmed the United States' 鈥渦nbreakable bond鈥� between the two countries. He called Israel a symbol of resilience. He says Israel faces enormous security challenges and is calling the Iran nuclear deal negotiated under former President Barack Obama 鈥渙ne of the worst deals I've ever seen.鈥�
